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courber

to bend

verb koor-BEH Rare
Body & Health Movement

Origin: Latin curvare (to curve)

Also means

to bow

Usage Note

Courber means to make something curved or bent — courber une branche, courber la tête (to bow one's head in submission or respect). The reflexive se courber means to stoop or bow down. The related adjective courbé describes a bent or stooped posture (dos courbé — hunched back).

Examples

"Il a courbé la tête en entrant."

Natural Translation

He bowed his head on entering.

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